GOP-Nunes memo released

President Donald Trump declassified a memo produced by the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence regarding the manner in which FISA warrants were approved in the Russia investigation. The memo was purportedly written by Rep. Devin Nunes, chairman of the Committee. Nunes was a member of President Trump's transition team, and on April 6, 2017, he temporarily stepped aside from oversight of the committee's Russia investigation while the Office of Congressional Ethics investigated charges that he improperly disclosed classified information to the public, but remained committee chairman for other purposes.

The controversial memo from the GOP and Nunes alleges that then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe told the House Intelligence Committee that no surveillance warrant would have been sought for a Trump campaign aide without a disputed opposition research dossier on Trump and Russia.​

In December 2017, the Office of Congressional Ethics cleared Nunes of allegations that he disclosed classified information to the public. The Committee voted to release the memo on Jan. 29, but because the memo included classified information the President needed to approve its release.

The FBI also has released a statement, saying:

"The FBI takes seriously its obligations to the FISA Court and its compliance with procedures overseen by career professionals in the Department of Justice and the FBI. We are committed to working with the appropriate oversight entities to ensure the continuing integrity of the FISA process. With regard to the House Intelligence Committee’s memorandum, the FBI was provided a limited opportunity to review this memo the day before the committee voted to release it. As expressed during our initial review, we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy."